TOMMY BASTOW
Cast in NHK’s 2025 morning drama series “Bakebake.” He plays Heaven, the heroine’s husband, a character modeled on Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo).
PROFILE
Born on August 26, 1991, in the United Kingdom.
In 2007, he formed the rock band FranKo and continues to work actively as its lead vocalist.
He made his major film debut in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging in 2008 and began his acting career in the United Kingdom. In 2018, he expanded his career to the United States.
His major credits include the Sony Pictures film Never Back Down: Revolt (2021), directed by Kellie Madison; the BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt (2017); the ABC drama The Crossing (2018); and the German-Japanese co-production The Window (2022, ZDF/Fuji Television).
In 2024, he gained international attention as Father Martin Alvito, one of the principal characters in the Emmy Award-winning series SHŌGUN. He is confirmed to return for seasons two and three.
In Japan, he played Heaven, a character modeled on Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), in the NHK morning drama series Bakebake. He received the Best Supporting Actor award at the 127th Drama Academy Awards for the role.
FranKo is scheduled to tour in December 2026.
Having studied Japanese for approximately ten years, he communicates fluently in Japanese. Based in Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom, he continues to work internationally as an actor and musician.
FILM
NEVER BACK DOWN — Aslan / Sony / Dir. Kelly Madison EXORCISMUS — Alex / Indie / Dir. Manuel Carballo THE BOYS ARE BACK — Harry's Friend / Miramax / Dir. Scott Hicks ANGUS, THONGS AND PERFECT SNOGGING — Dave the Laugh / Paramount Pictures / Dir. Gurinder Chadha
TELEVISION / SERIES
SHOGUN — Series Regular / FX THE WINDOW — Series Regular / International THE CROSSING — Series Regular / ABC MAN IN AN ORANGE SHIRT — Guest Star / BBC HARLEY AND THE DAVIDSONS — Guest Star / The Discovery Channel EASTENDERS — Recurring / BBC THE CUT — Recurring / BBC ROBIN HOOD — Guest Star / BBC M.I. HIGH — Recurring / BBC